Help with Coconuts

[Beachhunter]

I have been reading the posts regarding baby coconuts. I haven't been able to find them, but I have not checked out the asian markets yet. Coconuts are unfamilar for me other than the shredded stuff you can purchase. I love coconut so I want to venture out a bit. On Alissa's DVD she showed a baby coconut and I know I have never seen one of these before. If I buy what I call a regular coconut can I use it in the same way?? The water, milk & inside meat? If I recall on trips to the caribbean, they drink the water and throw away the rest plus they don't look like what Alissa had on her DVD nor the brown hairy coconut that I normally see. Any guidance on this topic would be greatly appreciated (how to open, eat, and basically use a coconut) Of course, if you live in the Dallas area (which I have noticed there are many members that do) do you know where to purchase the baby coconuts?

Thanks for your help.

[GHOST27M]

Coconuts on the beach are still in there large green to light brown smooth husk
Not easy to get into without a machete.
The brown nut is under that.
I have husked MANY on the beaches in Guam with only my dive knife.

Baby ones has not formed the thick brown shell so the are partially husked when you buy them and the husk is unripe so it looks whitish beige.

[NetKaPet]

Hi Beachhunter - here's a link (http://images.google.com/images?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGIH_enUS208US208&q=young+coconuts&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi) that will show you what young coconuts look like. You'll probably have to go to a market that sells organic produce to find them. Now, I actually used a Black & Decker (with a new drill bit) to get out the water. I just did about five or six holes around the top ... then I put a paper towel over the coconut and hit it with a hammer while it was sitting in a frying pan on the floor. A circular piece came out and I used the BACK of a spoon (in other words use the spoon backwards) to peel away the meat. In a book I read, they suggested using a cleaver and giving it a big hit on the side halfway down. I'm just not confident with that way yet. They're a challenge but very tasty when you succeed.

[TimS]

If you have some vegetable markets in your area ask them what they will charge you per case for young coconut. I was paying $3 at whole foods and the price went up to $4 so I asked a local market and ended up getting a case of 9 for $18, and can call anytime I want for more.

I just picked up a case and got home about 15 minutes ago. I already have one open and have the meat gone... the water is half gone. Yumm

[SmilingRawDancer]

I'm dying to make a video of myself whacking open coconuts...I aspire to be a raw movie-maker, but my kitchen/house isn't exactly broad-cast friendly :cool:

[SmilingRawDancer]

Oh, and I would recommend doing a search on yahoo white/yellow pages "local" for asian produce markets oriental food and then call around and ask for baby coconuts/thai coconuts.
THOSE places have the cheapest ones. I buy mine for 8$ for a pack of 9.

[irishserra]

Is there somewhere on line where we can order fresh baby coconuts and have them shipped? Does anyone know of a reliable site?

I've checked out places in NE Ohio and can't find anywhere and I LOVE coconut anything. That sounds so good right now.:p

[Nurse in the Raw]

I get mine from an Asian market, and let me tell you I live in a small town so if we have them, chances are your city does too. Just look in the yellow pages or online.

The difference between a young coconut and a mature one is like night and day. A young coconut can have up to 2 cups of water inside and it taste very nutty and sweet. A mature coconut has almost no water and to me is not sweet at all. A young coconut's meat feels almost like a wet noodle and is very tasty. A mature coconut's meat is tough and tasteless.

I especially love to break open a young coconut, pour the water into the blender, add the meat and a banana and it's a meal for me.

[EZ rider]

I buy mine for 8$ for a pack of 9
I get mine at a neighborhood asian store for $8.99 for a case of 9 so that is just under a buck each.

[Carol K]

I get mine at local Mexican markets!

[TimS]

wow! Thanks for the tips on the different markets. I'll see if I can get a better deal. I would think I could living in South Florida :)

[EZ rider]

I like to keep a couple of raw coconuts in the fridge at all times so that I can have a cold one anytime I feel like it.

[SmilingRawDancer]

I like to keep a couple of raw coconuts in the fridge at all times so that I can have a cold one anytime I feel like it.



Haha yes, my beer alternative :p

[Rubyred]

Asian markets are the best places to find the young cone-headed coconut at the best price.

In San Francisco I can find them from $1.09-$1.29. If I buy a regular coconut from a regular or health food store they run $2.00 or more!

[EZ rider]

I was going through the asian market checkout with a basket load of coconuts at $1.29 each and the checker told me about the case price (see my post above) and showed me where they keep the cases. Now I have fresh young coconuts coming out my ears. HaHa.

[Beachhunter]

Thanks a bunch for your help. I am going to find an asian market. They sound great. Now if I buy a case of them, how long to they keep. Do I have to keep them refrigerated? I guess by the sounds of it, they won't be around long because they are so good.

[Beachhunter]

I called Sprouts located at Coit and Legacy in Plano (for all you Dallas rawbies). I talked with the gentleman in the produce department and he said they have them. I am so excited I cannot wait until after work to go get one to try.

Thanks for your help. :D